Steve Brown

The first significant string bassist on record and among the finest from the 1922-28 period, Steve Dark brown has a right to be renowned in jazz history books but is normally overlooked. His sibling was the first New Orleans trombonist Tom Dark brown. Steve performed tuba in his Tom’s music group in early stages before switching to string bass. He relocated to Chicago in 1915, using Brown’s Ragtime Music group (his brother’s group, among the 1st jazz bands to become noticed in Chicago), freelanced and was an associate of the brand new Orleans Tempo Kings in 1923 and in addition played with the initial Memphis Melody Males as well as the Midway Dance Orchestra. While with Jean Goldkette’s Orchestra (1924-27), Brown’s basic but traveling bass lines (generally noticed prominently on the ultimate choruses) were occasionally the most remarkable facet of the recordings, adding significant amounts of enjoyment (and a jazz experience) towards the dance-oriented music. Much like lots of the Goldkette sidemen, Dark brown joined up with Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra later on in 1927 but, unlike them, he rejoined Goldkette the next year, settling completely in Detroit. Steve Dark brown remained active through the next few years but, since he hardly ever remaining Detroit, he was mainly forgotten beyond the town. Few recognize that he documented with Frank Gillis’ Dixie Five (for Jazzology) in 1950. It really is a pity that he was by no means rediscovered and persuaded to record his personal sessions or even to play with main jazzmen again.